FNORD Awards

The FNORD Awards refer to annual community recognition awards bestowed upon members of the Anglophone Simulationist Community, typically every January. They are generally considered the most prestigious micronational award.

History of the FNORDs

The awards were first organised by Scott Alexander in 2002, and were organised by the staff of MNN each year until 2008 with the collapse of MNN, when FNORDs were awarded by the MCS. Typically, a judging panel of five veteran micronationalists convenes to decide the recipients of each award from a group of nominees named by the general population.

Typical FNORD medallion.

FNORDs are believed to have been inspired by the similarly named Emperor Norton Award of the secessionist micronation of Molossia. These were similarly awarded each year and, like the FNORDs, were named after Emperor Norton I, an eccentric citizen of San Francisco during the late 19th century who declared himself Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico, and known by many as the 'First Micronationalist'
To distinguish this new micronational award from the awards issued by Molossia and the seccessionist micronationalists, the new awards were named the Fantasy/Simulated Norton Awards, hence FNORDs.

Prior to 2006, the number of awards varied greatly with very little consistency in recognition categories. Some years, the general public were invited to create the recognition categories, adding further inconsistency between years. In preparation for the 2006 awards, Liam Sinclair, the chair of the awards judging committee from 2004 to 2007, implemented a system of fixed awards year-to-year, with the most prestigious awards being retained. The addition of new awards is dependent on whether or not there is a quantifiable uniqueness to the nature of the award which can be objectively considered (i.e. not awarded on bias). For example, 'most efficient government', awarded to Babkha in 2005, did not qualify as every government has its efficiencies or lack thereof.
The FNORD Awards, while named after the year in which they are awarded, in fact recognize achievements in the previous year (for example, the 2007 FNORD Awards recognize achievements in 2006).

FNORD awards are now hosted by the MCS and since 2009 have also been awarded in the form of physical medals, whereas before they were simply forum images.

One of the first physical FNORD medals, issued in January 2010 for the FNORDs for 2009.

Categories of FNORD award

As of 2008, there were in excess of thirty-five individual awards handed out, the vast majority of which were "one-off" (that is, awarded during one year only). The following includes only the permanent awards named prior to the 2006 ceremony (many of which had been awarded several years prior to that date) and any subsequently named permanent awards. Many awards have been given unofficial names pertaining to individuals or organisations related to the respective fields, and are often referred to as such during the nominating and awarding each year.

Odlum Award for Overall Achievement - Named for Shane Odlum, the founder and leader of the micronation of Blackrock, this award is the most prestigious of all FNORD Awards. It is typically given to a veteran micronationalist in recognition of years of service to the community at-large.

Abbas Namvari & Charles Beard Award for Conflict Resolution - honouring two of the greatest diplomats in the community's history (Namvari of Babkha and Beard of Attera), this award is given to a micronationalist, or group/micronation, who exhibits great achievement and leadership in diplomacy. The award was re-introduced for the 2007 ceremony.

Best Revolutionary Concept - awarded in recognition of a micronationalist, or group/micronation, whose innovative concept receives widespread attention and improves the community at-large.

Bill Dusch Award for Micronational Cultural Development - named for the most prominent creator of the Soloralism micronational culture/religion, the award is presented to a micronationalist, or group/micronation, who makes a significant contribution to the development of culture within his/her micronation or intermicronationally.

RIMA Award for Excellence in Micronational History - created by Liam Sinclair, this is awarded by the Royal Institute of Micronational Antiquities to the micronationalist, or group/micronation, who contributes most to the preservation of the community's history. It is not awarded to any micronationalist who is a member of the Institute's management. The award was first introduced in 2006.

Norton Award for Excellence in the Field of Journalism - awarded to the micronationalist, micronation or media service that makes the most significant contribution to journalism and news media in the community each year.

Peter Little Award for Excellence in Micronational Literature - named in honour of Peter Little, a micronationalist with atrocious spelling and grammar who was active in the community from 2001 to 2003, this award recognizes contributions to the development of the community through literature.

Best New Micronationalist - as the name implies, this award is given to an outperforming micronationalist who has entered micronationalism within the past year (though in 2007, it was awarded by the judging panel to Jeremy Hart who was in the community just over a year).

'Tis But a Flesh Wound Award for Refusing to Give Up in the Face of Failure - re-added for 2012 after being awarded once for 2004, this award is given to a micronationalist who, or micronation which, has overcome notable setbacks without admitting defeat.

Award for Sport - added for 2013 following an increase in sporting activity through the community, activities which were previously usually nominated under cultural development. Presented to those who make a significant contribution to sporting development in their own micronation or internationally.

Previous awards

Prior to the permanence of awards from 2006's ceremony onward, the following were awarded at least once. Due to the changeable nature of the first few ceremonies, some awards were given for the same field despite having differing names.

Award for Best Avatar – awarded for the best online forum profile picture (2004).

Award for Best Forum / Award for Best Message Board – awarded for the best online forum design (2002 to 2004).

Award for Best Propaganda – awarded for high quality persuasive political advertising (2004).

Award for Best Speaker – awarded for proficiency in speech composition (2003).

Award for Best Website – awarded for the best website design (2002 to 2004).

Award for Constitutional Framework – awarded for proficiency in political document composition (2003).

Award for Diplomacy – awarded for tactful statesmanship (2003).

Award for Egotism – awarded for self-absorbed behaviour (2003).

Award for Greatest Contributions to Micropatriology – awarded for contributions to the study of micronationalism (2002).

Spin-offs and imitations

Shireroth has hosted, on occasion, Malarbor Awards, designed as a spoof FNORD Awards for Shirerithan citizens. In 2008, members of the MCS hosted the unofficial MASOM (Micronational Awards Society Of Micras) Awards, also tongue-in-cheek. Therefore although many micronations run their own systems of orders of merit, the FNORDs are the only truly intermicronational series of awards in the Micras Sector and hence the most prestigious.

Judging panel

The FNORD judging panel usually comprises an odd number of individuals—most commonly five, though panels of three have also been used—generally formed from long-standing and esteemed members of the wider community. The panel is usually chaired by an individual who is responsible for the receiving of nominations, picking of judges and announcing the awards' winners.

FNORDs for 2003:

For Achievement in Diplomacy: Johanns fonn Klosso for merging Cranda, Slobovia and Northworthy into Arminy, with honourable mention for delegates of the Argaath Perez Peace Conference (resulting in peace between Attera and Babkha.

Achievement in Constitutional Framework: Drafters (Liam Sinclair and Mik'el Tzion) of Attera's Fourth Crimson Constitution with honourable mention for the Hano-Pendronian Committee for the attempted merger of Hanover and Pendronia.